ANDREA MITCHELL reporting:Good morning,
Natalie
. Today the
United States
is urging
Israel
to accept an independent investigation of its commando raid, but
Israel
remains defiant. Overnight
Israel
permitted the pro-Palestinian activists to return to
Turkey
. Crowds greeted them at heroes while mourning the nine who died in the clash with Israeli commandos. Facing worldwide condemnation,
Israel
is in political turmoil. In the parliament, some members denounced an Arab-Israeli member as a traitor for joining the flotilla. Today former British Prime Minister
Tony Blair
is trying to persuade
Israel
's leaders to relax the blockade.

Former Prime Minister TONY BLAIR:There is a policy that we could adopt for
Gaza
that is absolutely clear that
Israel
has the right to protect itself against people trying to smuggle arms into
Gaza
, but that we should allow not just, you know, the proper
humanitarian aid
in terms of food and so on, but actually the materials and construction materials to rebuild houses and so on.

MITCHELL:At issue, a million and a half
Gaza
residents unable to rebuild their lives. But
Israel
released more video trying to prove that the activists were not on a humanitarian mission.

Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU (Israeli Prime Minister):This wasn't a
love boat
, this was a hate boat. These weren't pacifists, they weren't peace activists; these were violent supporters of terrorism.

MITCHELL:Today
Israel
is negotiating with
Ireland
over one of its ships now heading toward
Gaza
with more aid.
Israel
says it will enforce its blockade but knows that this time it has to avoid casualties.
Natalie
: